The effect of aging, hearing loss, and tinnitus on white matter in the human auditory system revealed with fixel-based analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Aging negatively influences the structure of the human brain including the white matter. The objective of our study was to identify, using fixel-based morphometry, the age induced changes in the pathways connecting several regions of the central auditory system (inferior colliculus, Heschl's gyrus, planum temporale) and the pathways connecting these structures with parts of the limbic system (anterior insula, hippocampus and amygdala). In addition, we were interested in the extent to which the integrity of these pathways is influenced by hearing loss and tinnitus.

Methods

Tractographic data were acquired using a 3 T MRI in 79 volunteers. The participants were categorized into multiple groups in accordance with their age, auditory thresholds and tinnitus status.

SUBMITTER: Svobodova V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10803717 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature